Why Choose Us?

Numbers say it all

CDS combines the superlative support and expertise of top-tier technology consulting firms with the personalized care and affordable cost structure of an in-house IT department.

Our clients benefit from state-of-the-art data centers and network operation centers in the U.S. and Europe that are optimized for high availability and security. We commit to a Service Level Target of 99.99% uptime per year, based on an infrastructure optimized to handle unexpected power failures, extreme weather conditions and other issues that can interrupt uptime.

CDS also offers one of the most sophisticated approaches to data security of any agency in the industry. We keep client data private and secure through a team of trained and certified professionals and an aggressive three-pronged approach focused on visibility, intelligence and response.

But don’t just take our word for it – hear how our clients are using our services.

99%

Uptime per Year

365

Days per year customer support is available

6m

Average number of cyberthreats detected over a 6 month period

66%

Number of CDS experts who have worked at an agency

3best in class data centers

3thousandservers consolidated from agency locations

20thousandusers supported across 100+ agencies in 250+ locations

40thousandmailboxes consolidated globally

We are connected to you

Services

Dependable IT Infrastructure

Data Security & Breach Monitoring

Consulting Services

Customer Care

Located in Dallas and London, the CDS operations team supports three data centers in Phoenix, Atlanta, and London. This team of dedicated engineers has a passion for excellence and customer service and is focused on delivering a trusted, reliable, highly available,and secure technology environment.

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Data security is a goal for all the CDS teams, and this one is no different. It has a comprehensive understanding of IT risk to ensure that client data is protected at all times. We also follow industry-recognized standards of excellence for managing agency and client data and process management, such as SSAE 16 / SOC 1 and SOC 2. Our ultimate goal is to take the burden off agency IT teams so they can concentrate on IT solutions within their agency that will make a difference in daily operations.

Some of the key areas of design, hosting, service, and support include:

We’ve also taken steps to increase aspects of our data center, including bandwidth, server count, mailbox count, storage, and server virtualization. This sophisticated infrastructure is the backbone of our services—and it’s just what you’ll need to take your business to the next level.

In an age of constant cyberattacks, keeping data safe—both yours and your client’s –is a top priority. At CDS, security is a fully recognized discipline practiced by a team of dedicated and experienced professionals. We boast a 24/7 Security Operations Center that provides vulnerability management, threat management, penetration testing, investigation, and forensic services. Clients can use these services in their own environments or can even extend them to their clients.

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Our security capabilities include top-of-the–line tools and counter-measures from the best offerings available in the marketplace.

They include:

Network and host vulnerability scanning

Web vulnerability scanning

Unified threat management

Log aggregation

Anti-malware/anti-spam protections

These tools are just one part of the equation: we have highly qualified security staff to provide the intelligence needed to turn alerts into actionable response. These pieces work together to provide the continuous, active defense required in contemporary networking environments.

CDS offers consulting services through two different types of employees: service delivery managers and application engineering services (AES) professionals. Each possesses a unique set of skills that ultimately benefit our clients.

Service Delivery Managers

Service Delivery Managers are essentially there to advocate for agencies so that all services are delivered in the manner and timeframe in which the agency expects. With prior agency experience within Omnicom and DAS, they understand your perspective—and the unique challenges that agencies face. Armed with excellent project management skills, they can make sure you are getting what you need and want, and that there is always an open line of communication. They provide user support, follow up on open tickets, and ensure consistency of service delivery. Above all, they have good communications skills and understand the importance of good service delivery.

Application Engineering Services

The application engineering services professionals possess a variety of skills—from networking and infrastructure to knowledge of Exchange, SharePoint, and Office 365. This wide range of expertise perfectly correlates to the high-end challenges that agencies face every day. Because of our agency experience, we understand how something such as down time can turn a new business pitch or client deliverable into a major problem. This positions us well to deliver better to the agency than an outsider without that valuable experience in our business. We’ve also put agreements in place with Microsoft, HP, and other providers to do escalations until the problem is fixed. Bottom line, we are here to offer you the best possible service to match all of your consulting needs.

Bottom line, we are here to offer you the best possible service to match all of your consulting needs. In fact, we are well positioned to handle your needs because of one thing: our employees. From engineers to desk side tech staff to project managers to service delivery managers—we can pull in different groups to resolve issues from different directions. There’s probably not a project or request for help that we cannot fulfill.

Today, information is coming in from all directions faster and faster. We know that agencies are always looking to get things done more quickly—whether a website or an FTP file transfer. We know that our clients don’t have time to wait — so we make sure that the average time to answer a call is under 20 seconds.

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Our focus is on making the end user feel supported, which means that we speak to you at your level, take ownership of your issues, and are available 24/7. We are the ones who handle all of your issues at the first level, whether it’s an email, Outlook, or connectivity issue.

If there’s something we can’t help with, we’ll escalate it up to our technicians who can handle it. We want to understand your needs in every situation and follow up so you don’t have to. We know that we’re your advocate, and it’s something we take very seriously.

Realtime monitoring of CDS Data Centers and Systems, including Messaging, Network, and Telephony can be found here.

Client Stories

What we think and what we love

Targetbase knows that most companies are drowning in a sea of consumer data. The Dallas-based firm works with a roster of blue-chip companies to create data-driven intelligence that helps these companies use data to create compelling brand experiences. With data at the heart of everything Targetbase does, keeping its customers’ information secure and its systems up and running 24/7 is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.

One of the capabilities created by CDS is a hybrid cloud solution that keeps the critical client data hosted securely at CDS and distributes the presentation layer via Microsoft Azure. Recently Targetbase and CDS teamed up to build a company game-changer: the Targetbase Marketing Platform, a solution that is purposely disruptive in how it delivers marketing services to clients.

The technology environment designed by CDS is based on a very modern architecture that lets Targetbase expand its business as needed — without having to go through a painful hardware or procurement process. According to Targetbase Chief Technology Officer Peter Kalupka, “What sets CDS apart is their client service and the fact that they understand our industry. They sit in the same chair I do, and that means they’re the best partner you can have.”

Targetbase

Turning Data into Competitive Advantage

Having the proper IT support on a daily basis is crucial in today’s business environment. Since July 2014, the Washington Speakers Bureau has turned to CDS to serve as its help desk. Previously, the agency handled all IT services in house. Yet, after the departure of its internal IT director, WSB was in a period of transition that offered an opportunity to increase the level of its IT capabilities, among them multiplying the amount of IT bandwidth. Working with CDS for this service was a “no brainer,” according to Chris Eimas, CFO of WSB.

CDS now provides a platform for IT infrastructure for WSB— keeping email running, the Internet up, and data safe. It also helps to keep data more resilient as well. The local power grid in WSB’s area has some issues on occasion, and it used to be that when that power grid was down, the agency was down. Now, the worst-case scenario is that when the power grid is down, people work from home with full access to the work they need.

Though there are two CDS employees on site at WSB, the goal is to have WSB’s employees contact the CDS Help Desk first with any questions— and to have the Help Desk be the one to resolve those issues. And it seems to be working. In July, 25 percent of issues were resolved by the services desk rather than on site employees— a number that has since grown to 38 percent.

Washington Speakers Bureau

Conducting Business as Usual with Ease

Serino/Coyne specializes in theatre marketing, so its website has a definite creative flair. But as important as an external-facing website is, having a solid intranet to communicate to employees is equally, if not more, important. So, in March 2013, Serino/Coyne began working with CDS to develop a Sharepoint intranet site from scratch—a one-stop shop for intradepartmental communications and file sharing that could offer a more visual approach and workflow for its employees.

The process was collaborative; CDS sent mockups to the Serino/Coyne team throughout the process so the agency could get a feel for the functionality of the site. From a design aspect, the CDS team added a carousel to the intranet to mirror the type of design on the agency’s website. The intranet serves as a news hub that could be updated regularly to replace a monthly employee newsletter and employee memos.

The greatest results so far have been in productivity— employees are able to make online requests for finance, HR, and office services, saving not only time, but also paper. Those employees who had originally shown some resistance to changing their ways have now fully adopted a new way of doing business.

Serino/Coyne

Communicating from Within with Creativity

Signature Graphics turned to CDS in September 2012 to redesign its website, which was very antiquated. As a provider of a number of different graphics solutions, the goal was to create a site that could accurately reflect Signature Graphics’ brand and customer base, and also be sophisticated enough to handle important SEO capabilities.

Signature Graphics wanted to make sure the landing page was spot on because it’s the first thing that greets visitors and it’s the starting point for all customers before they log into the inventory program. Because the agency charges a premium for its services, it wanted to make sure that the page was cleaner with more maneuverability. CDS ultimately designed different landing pages, with different images for different audiences, such as agencies, brand managers, and fleet managers. It also connected Signature Graphics with a hosting party.

Throughout the process, CDS worked closely with Signature Graphics’ sales and marketing groups to develop a site that worked for all parties involved. The site was completed in January 2013 and Signature Graphics currently works with an outside provider to determine how much time visitors are spending on various areas of the site.

Signature Graphics

Partners in Design

FAQ

We’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions about CDS, from our daily operations to the data that we manage.

“There has not been a situation where I have called CDS and they didn’t know the answer. They found a solution for me. They went beyond the website. They held our hands through the whole process.”

Tim Guse, CEO, Signature Graphics

“CDS provides support in a best-in-class fashion that allows technology leaders at the agencies to focus on adding value through delivering client solutions as opposed to focusing on the nuts and bolts of infrastructure.”